Saucer Smear - Vol 33 No 08 - 1986

Magazine Overview

Title: SAUCER SMEAR
Issue: Volume 33, Number 8
Date: September 10th, 1986
Publisher: Saucer and Unexplained Celestial Events Research Society
Editor: James W. Moseley

This issue of Saucer Smear, a non-scheduled newsletter, focuses on upcoming UFO events, internal debates within the ufology community, and critiques of various personalities and their work.

Miscellaneous Ravings

The editor announces that the National UFO Conference (NUFOC) will hold its 24th annual convention in Los Angeles, California, in the summer of 1987. Bill Moore is the local chairman. This year is significant as it marks the 40th anniversary of Kenneth Arnold's sighting and the Roswell Incident, the latter being a subject strongly advocated by Bill Moore. The decision for Los Angeles was made after considering other locations, including Cleveland, Ohio, where the NUFOC was co-founded in 1964 by Rick Hilberg and Allen Greenfield. Greenfield has since moved to Key West, Florida. The issue highlights a "terrible schism" among the nine members of the Permanent Organizing Committee (POC) that supposedly runs the NUFOC, specifically between the Hilbergs and Manak & Easley, who all reside in Cleveland. The editor states that due to these petty differences, no more conventions will be held in Cleveland until the situation is resolved.

Tidbits of Trash

Paris Flammonde points out that it was exactly 30 years ago that Long John Nebel began his "Party Line" radio show on WOR radio in New York City. Flammonde, who was the show's producer, recalls how the show featured UFO contactee Howard Menger. The editor also notes that he was a frequent guest on the show. Long John Nebel has passed away, but Howard Menger is still alive and living in Florida.

Timothy Good, author of "George Adamski: The Untold Story", has sent interesting letters from his FOIA file concerning a letter from R.E. Straith to George Adamski.

Letters to Ye Olde Editor

Erik Beckjord writes, stating that he occasionally fails to respond to critics like Sheaffer, Klass, and Mr. ParaNet because the editor deems other topics more urgent. He mentions being paid by the David Letterman TV Show to explain Cryptozoology on August 19th, and that copies of his appearance can be obtained from the Cryptozoology Museum in Malibu, California.

Tim Curry criticizes the editor for publishing comments from Erik Beckjord, whom he describes as having "satisfied himself by raising hell and bringing the subject of Bigfoot research to an all-time low" before turning to UFO research. Curry warns that Beckjord derives pleasure from using people and seeing his name in print, and that his past behavior, including an incident involving a gun, led him to leave the Bigfoot field. Curry suggests Beckjord may have an identity crisis.

Ron Schaffner of "Creature Chronicle" comments on Erik Beckjord's scenarios, which he finds to be from the late 1960s and early 1970s. He questions the choice of the "unimpressive New Zealand blob of light" as a case to critique, suggesting Klass and Sheaffer have already debunked it. Schaffner also critiques MUFON, comparing its membership dues unfavorably to those of the National Geographical Society or the Cincinnati Zoo.

Dr. Bruce Maccabee of the Fund for UFO Research writes regarding the New Zealand UFO film. He addresses comments about reflections and argues that the lack of reflection is not an embarrassment to the suggestion that the light was above the water. He also refutes the squid boat hypothesis. Maccabee offers his opinion that complexity should not prevent acceptance of scientific "facts," comparing it to the historical belief in a flat earth. He concludes by suggesting a return to collecting "antiquities" as a less stressful pursuit.

Jim Leming, former associate of Pete Mazzola of the SBI, questions Todd Zechel's stance against personality feuds while initiating them. He also touches on the idea of Phil Klass working for the CIA, noting his own past involvement with the CIA on the Robertson Panel in 1953, which studied UFOs. Leming criticizes Zechel's "One for all and all for me" attitude regarding information sharing.

John Keel, writing under the alias "Upyerz Whipsnade", responds to a previous "Saucer Smear" issue. He defends his remarks about James Randi and Phil Klass, calling critics "inferior intellect[s]". He mentions attending a C.I.A. meeting and missing Erik Beckjord's appearance on the David Letterman Show. Keel suggests that the 1987 UFOCon should be held in Washington to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Kenneth Arnold's "non-sighting" and proposes declaring 1987 "THE YEAR OF THE SAUCERS." He notes an increase in UFO sightings and mentions a meteor seen by thousands in August. Keel also announces his upcoming addresses in Minneapolis and the Washington D.C. area.

Alan Abel, playwright and author, expresses his enjoyment of "Saucer Smear" and his "ecstatic" reaction to James Randi's MacArthur award. He lists several individuals he considers "favorite people."

Dr. Leo Sprinkle, a ufologist, writes to become a non-subscriber, requesting his name be added to the list of non-readers and non-writers. He asks about the significance of the underlined 'k' in Erik Beckjord's name.

Dr. Thornton Page, retired NASA scientist, addresses the accusation that Phil Klass works for the CIA. Page confirms his own past involvement with the CIA on the Robertson Panel in 1953, which investigated UFOs. He mentions that the panel's secret report was declassified as Appendix U of the Condon Report. Page also notes Jim Oberg's explanation of a UFO-like phenomenon seen by astronomers as a Japanese H-1 booster.

Richard Heiden, Assistant Editor of the APRO Bulletin, comments on the editor's "fence-sitter" stance and mentions a remark about such a pose possibly resulting in castration. He provides an update on APRO, stating that Jim Lorenzen is unwell and Coral is caring for him, making it uncertain when the next APRO issue will be released.

Gerd Hovelmann, a non-subscriber from Germany, thanks the editor for the "exciting new issue" and expresses his enjoyment of the "uncommon sense" and "sense of rumor" in "Saucer Smear." He discusses James Randi, suggesting that criticisms of his activities should focus on more respectable grounds than personal affairs, and that such revelations are irrelevant to Randi's debunking work.

Frank Bruckman writes that he continues to read the newsletter, questioning why, and suggests that many correspondents are "beating a dead horse" on a low intellectual level.

Phil Klass clarifies his previous letter, stating he does not believe MUFON or its officials are a covert government agency. However, he hypothesizes that if the government knows UFOs involve extraterrestrial craft, it would need covert investigators to prevent evidence from falling into the hands of non-government UFO investigators. He notes that after 1969, when the USAF closed its UFO investigations, the government could no longer dispatch investigators from nearby bases, making the 1969 date pivotal. Klass concludes that unless MUFON is a covert agency, the U.S. government has lost interest in "flying saucer" type UFOs, though the USAF remains interested in unidentified flying aircraft or missiles that pose a national security threat.

Dale D. Goudie of the Puget Sound Aerial Phenomena search group writes to Klass, accusing him of perpetrating hoaxes and not researching cases thoroughly. Goudie criticizes Klass for misinterpreting FOIA documents and for attempting to blacklist those who question the government's integrity regarding UFOs and alleged cover-ups, calling them communists.

Bruce Walton proposes that the UFO mystery is a spiritual phenomenon, not physical, and that UFOs, along with the occult, telepathy, and possession, are demonic in origin. He suggests that this interpretation explains everything and that "ufologists" like Albert K. Bender, who proposed a Satanic origin for UFOs, were silenced or murdered.

Sid Gould writes, appreciating "Saucer Smear's" "agnostical approach" and "shower of cold reason" in contrast to sensationalized UFO reports. He criticizes religious people who dismiss UFO sightings or twist reports to resemble saintly appearances, stating that religious fanatics have been destroying UFO records for thousands of years.

Ken Behrendt of AURA suggests that UFO skeptics may deny the reality of UFOs out of "secret jealousy" because the UFOs' performance capabilities still surpass earthly aircraft. He argues that to keep human pilots in increasingly fast and violent aircraft, a switch to the technology utilized by extraterrestrials is imperative.

Continued from Page One

This section mentions former Secretary of State John Foster Dulles being aware of the alleged misuse of official stationery. It refers to correspondence after the matter was turned over to the Justice Department, mentioning an unnamed suspect, possibly Gray Barker, and notes that no prosecution occurred.

Police Beat

A brief note states that a man was jailed for punching a door.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include internal disputes and criticisms within the ufology community, debates over the nature of UFO evidence (physical vs. spiritual/demonic), the role of government in UFO investigations, and the credibility of researchers and organizations. The editor, James W. Moseley, maintains a critical and often sarcastic tone, engaging with various correspondents and offering his own opinions, particularly regarding the NUFOC and the personalities involved in the UFO field. There is a clear emphasis on personal opinions and debates, with the editor often presenting differing viewpoints from his correspondents.